Start an Outdoor Club!

Getting Started: The Basics

• Contact us at Teens to Trails. We can help you create a club that works for your school by sharing resources and connecting you with other high school outdoor clubs. If your administration has questions or concerns we can help you answer them and connect your principal with principals at schools with successful outdoor clubs.

• Identify at least one adult advisor who will provide leadership and carry out administrative responsibilities.

• Obtain permission from your principal to start the club

• Become a Registered Club with Teens to Trails to become eligible for grants, pre-planned programs, trip lotteries and more types of support.

• Recruit! Have a table at your school’s activity fair, include information about the club in school announcements and use the poster available on our website or design your own to hang in hallways & build interest.

• Think about setting goals and identifying some easy to do activities for your club.

• Ask prospective members what outings they are interested in.

• Hold a meeting and plan your first outing!

Recruit or become an Advisor

If you are a student: Recruit a Club Advisor

• Talk to teachers you know who like the outdoors and might be willing to act as your Club Advisors. Get them excited. Having an advisor is essential (and two is better than one). They can help you meet with administrators, plan and lead trips, arrange transportation, and provide structure and leadership for the Club. Some good people to think about are science teachers, physical education teachers, or anyone with a personal passion for the outdoors.  If they have questions, encourage them to contact us.

If you are a teacher or work in another capacity at a high school: Become a Club Advisor:

• Interested in becoming an Outdoor Club Advisor, but not sure what is involved or if you have the necessary skills? Contact us to learn more and get introduced to other Club Advisors around the state. If you are trying to start an outdoor club and encountering challenges, contact us, your issues have likely occurred in other schools and we may have solutions to share.

Attend Teens to Trails’ next Outdoor Leadership Conference

Recruit Outdoor Club Members

• Promote your club with announcements, posters, social media posts, etc.

• Think of ways to actively incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion to ensure that all students feel welcome

• Talk to students who already spend time outdoors with their families, for work, at summer camp, etc.

• Talk to students who have little or no experience but are looking for opportunities to get outside, explore Maine and new aspects of their community.

• Get students excited! Enlist their help to recruit other friends and classmates.

• Search out other faculty & community members who share a passion for the outdoors and ask for their help.

• Ask us for pictures or help making a presentation that you can share as a recruiting tool.

Gain School Support

• Print & provide the Teens To Trails “High School Outdoor Club” brochure to your principal.

• Share the preparation you have done 

• Be ready to discuss the benefits of an Outdoor Club, including: 

  • Emotional and physical well-being of students

  • Improvements in school performance: test scores, attention span & motivation to learn

  • Meaningful connections to caring adults

  • Strong relationships with peers built through shared experiences

• Be ready to discuss your plans to ensure that trips are safe

• Bring interested students with you to explain why they would join this club

Schedule the First Meeting

• A small group is all you need to get started

• Be inclusive: all people belong outdoors

• Your first meeting can even be outside!

• Define your Club’s goals & create a simple mission statement

• Have a few simple outings in mind

• Encourage students to take leadership roles – this can be a great way to keep members engaged and excited. Let them identify, research, and plan.  Active members can become Club Officers.

  • Roles can include: recruiter, trip planner, food planner, etc 

• Distribute your school’s Participation Agreement and Health Forms

Hold Your First Outing

• Start with a small group and an easy trip or activity. It is good to start simple and build on success.

• It is essential to select trips and activities where leaders have the experience and training to lead safely.

• Plan carefully. Consider group size limits (both minimum and maximum size), access, contingency plans, transportation, parking, and weather. Share your itinerary with a responsible 3rd party.

• Prepare a letter for parents & packing list for participants. Recognize that some may need help with acquiring appropriate attire or gear. (Teens to Trails distributes gear to registered clubs, maybe we have what you need?) 

• Leaders need to carry a first aid kit

• Need ideas? See the suggestions for Easy Outings or Activities Adapted to COVID-19 Guidelines

Budget and Fundraise

• Many outdoor clubs operate successfully on a small budget but anticipate expenses for:

• Transportation, gear, food, entrance fees

• Each outdoor club will find different ways to cover these costs. Funding sources include: the school (can they provide bus/van transportation?), outdoor club members, donations, grants, fundraisers, etc.

• Some fundraising opportunities are… 

  • Sponsorships from local businesses

  • Concession stand sales

  • Bottle drives

  • Teens to Trails Grants-to-Clubs

Manage Risk

A successful outing is one where everyone has a good time and returns safely. This requires good planning, qualified leadership, and a commitment from outdoor club members to ensuring everyone’s safety. This can be achieved by:

• Risk Management Considerations for Outings with Students

• Providing leaders with appropriate training

• Having members take personal responsibility to follow club rules and be thoughtful that their actions impact others

• Understanding liability concerns

• Confirming coverage under the school's insurance policy

• Preparing evacuation plans with trip planning

• Sharing trip itineraries with responsible third parties

• Completing school Health and Safety and Participant Agreement forms prior to the trip